parol

American  

[puh-rohl, par-uhl] / pəˈroʊl, ˈpær əl /

noun

1. something stated or declared.

2. by parol, by word of mouth; orally.

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adjective

1. given by word of mouth; oral; not contained in documents.

   parol evidence.

parol British  

/ ˈpærəl, pəˈrəʊl /

noun

1. (formerly) the pleadings in an action when presented by word of mouth

2. an oral statement; word of mouth (now only in the phrase by parol )

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adjective

1. 1. (of a contract, lease, etc) made orally or in writing but not under seal

   2. expressed or given by word of mouth

      parol evidence

Etymology

Origin of parol

First recorded in 1470–80; earlier parole, Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin paraula, syncopated variant of unattested paravola, from Latin parabola parable; parley

Example Sentences

In the past, war survivors have used things like electricity and water bills—called parol evidence—to corroborate their property claims.

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2022

Oral or parol agreements may be made to do many things, but everywhere the law makes an exception of agreements relating to land purchases.

From Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman by Bolles, Albert Sidney

I think that letter, if you insist on knowing my views, should come into evidence, and not parol testimony taken up; but my reasons for declining the office were mostly personal in their nature.

From History of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, by the House of Representatives, and his trial by the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors in office, 1868 by Ross, Edmund G. (Edmund Gibson)

Curtis says in this case that—By the common law, a notice to produce a paper, merely enables the party to give parol evidence of its contents, if it be not produced.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Legal by Ingersoll, Robert Green

So parol evidence would be admissible, no doubt, to enlarge or diminish the extent of the liability assumed for nonperformance, where it would be inadmissible to affect the scope of the promise.

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell